|
|
|
My GBA Grand
Tour Photo Gallery
Have you ever wanted to get away from it all? Well, the
God Bless America Grand Tour (GBA) could have been just the thing
for you. In 2004, the GBA Tour was sponsored by the now inactive
Arkansas Regional Voyagers (ARV) and the object was to visit one county
that starts with each letter in GOD BLESS AMERICA. The winner was
the rider whose sum total of the county populations was the
lowest. Over the years, the ARV has sponsored a motorcycle Grand
Tour each year with the proceeds going toward pediatric cancer at the
University of Oklahoma Medical Services Center.
The final numbers were tallied and I received fourth
place. But the real surprise was that the ARV selected my photo
of Esmeralda County as "The Most Unusual" photo.
Final Counties:
| G |
Grant,
Nebraska |
747 |
|
A |
Arthur,
Nebraska |
444 |
| O |
Oliver, Nebraska |
2065 |
|
M |
McPherson, Nebraska |
533 |
| D |
Daggett, Utah |
921 |
|
E |
Eureka, Nevada |
1651 |
| B |
Blaine, Nebraska |
583 |
|
R |
Rock, Nebraska |
1756 |
| L |
Loup, Nebraska |
712 |
|
I |
Iron, Wisconsin |
6861 |
| E |
Esmeralda, Nevada |
971 |
|
C |
Carter, Montana |
1360 |
| S |
Slope, North Dakota |
767 |
|
A |
Alpine, California |
1208 |
| S |
Sioux,
Nebraska |
1475 |
|
|
Total Population |
22054 |
Listed below I
have a random sampling of some of my county photos, and some of the
sights along the way this year. Take a close look. You'll
see that these are great places to "get away from it all"!!
This is such a
wonderful county and I get visitors stopping by from all over the
world. If you are visiting from outside the US, please drop me a
note from the Feedback Page on
whether you thought this represented your idea of America or not.
 |
Alpine County, California
The Sierra-Nevada Mountains are beautiful in the spring time.
The Donner Party had their last meal a short distance from here.
|
 |
Alpine County, California
|
 |
Arthur County, Nebraska
I think I know someone who grew up here. Do you know who it
is?
|
 |
Cook County, Minnesota
I traveled up to Cook County because the cameras
malfunctioned in Carter County, Montana.
|
 |
Daggett County, Utah
|
 |
Devil's Tower Natural Monument
Northeast corner of Wyoming
|
 |
Iron County, Wisconsin
Iron County is the third lowest "I" county in the country!
Right here in Wisconsin, wow.
|
 |
Esmeralda County, Nevada
The wind blew particularly hard this day. By the way, this
county was on the edge of Area 51. See elsewhere on this website my
photos of the Extraterrestrial Highway and the Little Ale'Inn.
|
 |
Frost on the bike
I regularly battled cold and rainy weather. This particular
morning I just wheeled the bike out into the rising sun and went back
to bed for an hour.
|
 |
Frost on the bike |
 |
Frost on the bike |
 |
Adams County, North Dakota
The cold and the plains will drive a person mad.
|
 |
Fillin' Up
With gas stations 100 miles apart, I found myself getting gas
whenever it was available. In Panaca, Nevada, I met a Nevada Park
Service Ranger who gave me the lowdown on the Great Basin and hunting
fossils in Nevada.
|
 |
Looking Back
Here's a look back at the town of Panaca, Nevada. Over the
distant mountain range and then another 60 miles lies Cedar City, Utah.
|
 |
Sioux County, Nebraska
Screwing around at the photo stops keeps one from getting
prairie grass on the brain. Obviously I need to screw around more.
|
 |
Logan County, Nebraska
|
 |
McPherson County, Nebraska
|
 |
Where the cattle roam
|
 |
Green Acres
Someone used to call this home!
|
 |
Oliver County, South Dakota
The temperature in April was in the upper 30's in the
morning. But, it warmed into the upper 40's by mid day.
|
 |
Somewhere in Nebraska |
 |
Prudence Cockpit
This is the view I have when piloting the bike. Prudence did
a fine job of getting me out to California and back again, and through
sun, wind, rain, and snow.
|
 |
Cook County, Minnesota
The last county visited.
|
 |
Sheridan County, North Dakota
This is a fine place to get away from it all. As you can see,
there are miles and miles of empty space. Not much to see unless you're
a prairie grass expert.
|
 |
Bonneville Salt Flats
Wendover, Utah
|
 |
Bonneville Salt Flats
Wendover, Utah
|
 |
Bonneville Salt Flats
Wendover, Utah
|
 |
Bonneville Salt Flats
This view is across the salt flats. The lake is actually
about 3 or 4 inches of very salty water spread out across a large area.
The wind blows the brine around the lake until the sun evaporates the
water. When the water is gone, a very flat, hard crust of salt is left
behind.
|
This
site was last updated
03/07/09
|
